What I’ve learned in 2007

Uncategorized 7 Minutes

Everyone is doing these 2007 wrapups, which are great ways to get more traffic to old posts. I should probably do one of those for my video show, but I have something else on my mind. I’ve put a few over on my link blog, but only the very best ones I’ve seen.

2007 was an incredible year for me in terms of life teaching me lessons. The lessons came at me fast and furious, so here’s some that had an impact on my life.

1. Having a new child in the family is a real joy. My only regret? Every day is going by so freaking fast. Neither Patrick nor Milan will ever have another day just like today. Neither will you or I, for that matter.

2. I lost a few good friends this year. Lesson? Today might be the last. Make the best of it and make sure your insurance is up to date (which we updated recently).

3. Pay attention to the “unimportant” people in your life. Last year this goofy guy walked into the CES BlogHaus. I introduced him to a few people and did an interview with him. He wasn’t famous. Didn’t have a blog. Hadn’t started a business or done anything that anyone would qualify as “important.” But between January and now he’s become a New York Times best selling author and he’s gotten me onto CNBC and the New York Times. All cause I paid attention to him back when he wasn’t “somebody.”

4. If your company doesn’t have a story to tell watch out. Keys I’ve learned? Every employee better be able to tell the story. The story better be reflected in the pitch the CEO does. Mike Arrington better understand the story if you want him to help you out (and Mike is just a metaphor here for any journalist or blogger). Your VCs better understand the story. The story better not change. For instance, the story behind Channel 9 at Microsoft hasn’t changed in four years. It was a community and an openess project that helps people get over their fears of Microsoft just like how Lenn Pryor was scared of flying (a pilot told him to turn on channel 9 on United Airlines). Does your business have a simple, compelling, story? My next thing will.

5. Are two employees of yours pulling your company in two different directions and messing with your story? You’ve got to solve that and solve it fast. Make one of those people work for the one who is closest to your business’s story. Don’t have a story? Fix that and fast. It won’t end well.

6. Everytime my ego tells me I’m important for some reason bad things happen in my life.

7. On the other hand, everytime Loren Feldman or Valleywag beat up on me good things happened in my life. Including even this past weekend. We’ll talk at CES about the latest good thing. So, bring it on in 2008!

8. If Marc Canter wants to take you out for a meal, go. The dude knows the best restaurants in tons of cities around the world AND knows how to make each one an incredible experience.

9. Revenues cover up a variety of sins. No revenues? You better be freaking perfect.

10. The one who has the most friends on Facebook, Twitter, Upcoming, Yelp, Plaxo, Flickr, etc does NOT win the game. But, the one who FOLLOWS the most people on each of those DOES have a better life!

11. When people were courting me to join them invariably they’d pitch me with “do you want to make a lot of money?” I always hesitated on that question. Why? I know lots of miserable wealthy people. The right question? “Do you want to have a ton of incredible experiences and great friends?” Now THAT I can say yes to, and do often.

12. If people are loyal to you, reward that loyalty. That’s why Rocky Barbanica and Shel Israel are two great friends.

13. When your wife asks you anything about stuff like whether or not she should go back to work, or whether she should buy a new jacket, or have her mom come live with us (which just happened) the ONLY correct answer is “do whatever makes you incredibly happy.” I’ve said that quite a few times this year and it’s ALWAYS paid off. Luckily I married a woman who always makes the right choice, so that’s easy to say.

14. It’s easy to build an audience by tearing other people down. It’s far harder to build one by building them up. Why is that? Humans love messes — it’s why we slow down on the freeway when there’s a big wreck. Building up people and companies is a lot more fun long term, though.

15. When my audience has said I’m wrong they are right at least 90% of the time (and probably more).

16. The more I read, the more interesting my life becomes.

17. Learning to swim through noise is one of the best skills I’ve learned in the past few years. Got me ready for Twitter. As I type this post there is a new Twitter arriving on my screen every two to 10 seconds!

18. Dealing with continual partial attention is a skill that psychologists and other mental health professionals will be studying for years. I’m learning that it does destroy productivity, which is why I force myself to do at least one video everyday. That turned out to be a brilliant decision (thanks to Andrew Baron of Rocketboom for telling me that). Thanks to Linda Stone for bringing continuous partial attention to my attention. Speaking of Linda, her dinners had a deep influence on me.

19. The world of media is undergoing deep changes that few people really understand. Everytime I show people my cell phone and explain it’s now a TV station their mouths hang open — they can’t believe that I can send video to the world from a cell phone. For free.

20. The two things I got most excited about (iPhone and Facebook) have ended up being the two biggest technology stories of 2007. I’m seeing less and less utility in Facebook, though, and what’s funny is when I met some people in the London Underground they said the same thing. So, Facebook will probably be the story of 2008, too. Will it keep its users? Will it find a good business model, etc etc?

21. Blogging is still a fad. Heheh. But now it’s a Twitter fad. A Tumblr fad. A Pownce fad. An Utterz fad. A Seesmic fad. A Kyte fad. Bring on the fads!

22. I’m not a good manager. The one employee I didn’t screw up this year was Rocky and I’m too scared of him to mess with him! 🙂

23. Living life in public +is+ weird.

24. The best clients are ones who believe in you from the start and don’t need to be sold. That was true back in the 1980s when I worked a camera store counter and it’s true today with Seagate and, now, AMD who is sponsoring our CES shows.

25. There is absolutely no way to thank everyone who participated in this grand experiment this year. One thing that does is create a karmic imbalance that pressures me to step up my stuff for you next year.

26. If I do something really idiotic, it gets viewers. If I do something really smart, it gets participants. Ask anyone who has been linked to by Digg and they’ll tell you the difference between a drive-by reader and someone who sticks around and participates. That said, being an idiot did get me in that famous Bubble video! 🙂

27. If your business is being run right the people who bring results to the boardroom table are probably getting more and more responsibilities. If they aren’t that’s a sign that the business isn’t being managed well and the right things aren’t being measured (or reported).

28. The worst thing I did all year is not answer your emails.

29. When your audio sucks on your video nothing else really matters.

30. There’s nothing worse than an A-list blogger who thinks he/she knows it all. Yes, I’m looking in the mirror.

31. I did six Amazon Kindle videos. The one where I was a jerk got 10x more traffic than the other five, where I was much fairer.

32. Everytime my wife tells me to do something (or not to do something) and I don’t listen to her bad stuff happens. It’s amazing, but true.

33. Whenever someone says that they are unsubscribing (or unfollowing on Twitter) my subscriber and follower numbers go up (and I’ve compared to my friends and they also say the same is true). Me? Maybe if you aren’t making some people mad you aren’t being interesting enough?

34. I didn’t exercise enough in 2007.

35. I wasn’t nice enough to enough people. Everytime I treated someone rudely they went to Valleywag or Uncov or Fake Steve Jobs and told the world what a jerk I was.

36. No matter whether I did something idiotic or brilliant Dave Winer kept being my friend. So did Buzz Bruggeman. Chris Pirillo. Jeff Sandquist. Shel Israel. Rocky Barbanica. Teresa Williamson. Francine Hardaway. Loic Le Meur. And a bunch of others — this list could go on for pages.

37. I miss my friends from Seattle. Chris Pirillo. David Geller. The Jeung’s. Steve Ball. Buzz. In 2008 I’m gonna come to Seattle more often to reconnect.

38. The interesting stuff that’s happening is going on outside the valley. What I find is interesting is that everyone assumes that things like Twitter and Facebook are happening only in the Valley or in San Francisco. That’s not true, just watch http://www.twittervision.com to see how wrong that assumption is. I want to go to China, Russia, and India in 2008 and I bet I’ll get to at least one of those places.

39. Big mistake? Not spending more time working on posts. The ones where I thought about the post for hours turned out great. The ones I banged out really fast without thinking too much? They are the stupid ones.

40. Not spending enough time with Patrick/Milan — they both bring such joy to my life when I hang out with them. Not to mention that Patrick is quite a geek and is figuring out stuff that I haven’t yet (I don’t play World of Warcraft, for instance, but he’s getting to be darn good at it). Gotta go.

I’m sure I’m forgetting about 1,000 other lessons I learned in 2007, but there is a limit to the length a blog post should be.

Happy New Years to each and everyone of you!

It’ll be interesting to see what lessons I learn in 2008. One thing for sure: you’ll get to learn from my mistakes as I make them! (And you’ll get to throw metaphorical fruit at me for doing so. Heheh). Take care and see you in 2008!

Published by Robert Scoble

I help entrepreneurs build their technology business' story, help with getting ready for investors, with other launch plans, and many other strategic things that can help your new startup. Call to talk: +1-425-205-1921 (text first).

Published

125 thoughts on “What I’ve learned in 2007”

  1. Great list. 🙂 We can only do our best, and sometimes that’s not enough. The stuff about living for the now has been hitting me close to home recently. Spend time with people, particularly your family. 🙂

    Like

  2. Great list. 🙂 We can only do our best, and sometimes that’s not enough. The stuff about living for the now has been hitting me close to home recently. Spend time with people, particularly your family. 🙂

    Like

  11. 29. When your audio sucks on your video nothing else really matters.

    great review of your 2007. How will you address your audio issues? I’m curious …

    Like

  17. I really enjoyed this post!

    And, I picked up a few things from your list that I’ll ‘borrow’ for mine! Love the ‘do one video a day’. I started out with a goal of a screencast a week this year, but I broke it by Feb, I think. 😦

    See you at CES!

    Like

  18. I really enjoyed this post!

    And, I picked up a few things from your list that I’ll ‘borrow’ for mine! Love the ‘do one video a day’. I started out with a goal of a screencast a week this year, but I broke it by Feb, I think. 😦

    See you at CES!

    Like

  21. Another great post Robert and let me thank you for your indirect guidance in helping me secure a role in 2007 which only a year ago i did not think would have been possible.

    Like

  22. Another great post Robert and let me thank you for your indirect guidance in helping me secure a role in 2007 which only a year ago i did not think would have been possible.

    Like

  23. Re #8, your advice has been solid for decades on that one. In February 1984, I was in Chicago and a friend in the video-game business said there was this guy I should go have dinner with. Marc Canter took me out to a little Cuban place on Howard Street, where we had a great time talking about all the cool code in the just-shipped Macintosh ROM. Happy New Year!

    Like

  24. Robert, great post. Happy new year to you and all your family. Make the most of everyone that is close to you. I lost my father this year and realized how fragile life can be and how much we miss people when they are gone. Some bloggers gone too this year. Sad. However, it is a new year so advice – keep your lenses clean and refocus often!

    Like

  25. Re #8, your advice has been solid for decades on that one. In February 1984, I was in Chicago and a friend in the video-game business said there was this guy I should go have dinner with. Marc Canter took me out to a little Cuban place on Howard Street, where we had a great time talking about all the cool code in the just-shipped Macintosh ROM. Happy New Year!

    Like

  26. Robert, great post. Happy new year to you and all your family. Make the most of everyone that is close to you. I lost my father this year and realized how fragile life can be and how much we miss people when they are gone. Some bloggers gone too this year. Sad. However, it is a new year so advice – keep your lenses clean and refocus often!

    Like

  31. A very good list – and many that made me laugh out loud so that I had to read them aloud to my husband on the couch cuddling with our daughter.

    Especially #13 and #32…

    Of course, #7 actually made me laugh the hardest – but then, that’s probably the case for anyone on Twitter.

    May 2008 be a year of even greater discovery and joy for you!

    Like

  32. A very good list – and many that made me laugh out loud so that I had to read them aloud to my husband on the couch cuddling with our daughter.

    Especially #13 and #32…

    Of course, #7 actually made me laugh the hardest – but then, that’s probably the case for anyone on Twitter.

    May 2008 be a year of even greater discovery and joy for you!

    Like

  33. Thanks for the list and for sharing. Thanks for your willingness to try new things while others are standing back saying ‘it won’t work’ (until it does and they quietly switch). Thanks for encouraging the risk-takers like Loic. Thanks for having opinions and being willing to be wrong. Thanks for following folks like me who aren’t A-listers 🙂

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  34. Thanks for the list and for sharing. Thanks for your willingness to try new things while others are standing back saying ‘it won’t work’ (until it does and they quietly switch). Thanks for encouraging the risk-takers like Loic. Thanks for having opinions and being willing to be wrong. Thanks for following folks like me who aren’t A-listers 🙂

    Like

  37. I often find myself wondering where you’re coming from … so thanks for “Dealing with continual partial attention is a skill that psychologists and other mental health professionals will be studying for years. I’m learning that it does destroy productivity, which …”, that gives me something like an existential to work with.

    BTW: yesterday on twitter I went on for a bit thusly:
    “‘Polyphasic’ is far more than just a peculiar sleep pattern. It’s got everything to do with not becoming en-thralled with the ‘now’, but it is notRPTnot a state of ADHD, far from it. It’s more related to the way dynamically balanced systems digest entropy, i.e. it’s fractal.”

    So, in that spirit, have an outrageously glorious / fractal 2008!

    –bentrem

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  38. I often find myself wondering where you’re coming from … so thanks for “Dealing with continual partial attention is a skill that psychologists and other mental health professionals will be studying for years. I’m learning that it does destroy productivity, which …”, that gives me something like an existential to work with.

    BTW: yesterday on twitter I went on for a bit thusly:
    “‘Polyphasic’ is far more than just a peculiar sleep pattern. It’s got everything to do with not becoming en-thralled with the ‘now’, but it is notRPTnot a state of ADHD, far from it. It’s more related to the way dynamically balanced systems digest entropy, i.e. it’s fractal.”

    So, in that spirit, have an outrageously glorious / fractal 2008!

    –bentrem

    Like

  39. Thanks so much for sharing what you’ve learned this year. One of the most valuable posts I’ve read in awhile.

    A couple things I’ve learned:

    1. Gratitude makes life better
    2. Every “bad” thing that happens is an opportunity

    Happy New Years to you and your family, Robert

    Like

  40. Thanks so much for sharing what you’ve learned this year. One of the most valuable posts I’ve read in awhile.

    A couple things I’ve learned:

    1. Gratitude makes life better
    2. Every “bad” thing that happens is an opportunity

    Happy New Years to you and your family, Robert

    Like

  41. Quite a list. No need to be scared of me, my friend. I’m the only one who needs to be scared of me. Only I know the truth. 🙂 I got your back, boss-

    ’08 will be screamin’ Thanks for sticking with me all this time-

    Rocky-

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  42. Quite a list. No need to be scared of me, my friend. I’m the only one who needs to be scared of me. Only I know the truth. 🙂 I got your back, boss-

    ’08 will be screamin’ Thanks for sticking with me all this time-

    Rocky-

    Like

  43. I don’t always agree with you, Robert, but I stick with you because
    1) you’re a lot more humble than arrogant (which is the opposite of most A-list bloggers)
    2) you have a childlike eagerness and passion for learning
    3) you put family first

    Happy New Year!

    Like

  44. I don’t always agree with you, Robert, but I stick with you because
    1) you’re a lot more humble than arrogant (which is the opposite of most A-list bloggers)
    2) you have a childlike eagerness and passion for learning
    3) you put family first

    Happy New Year!

    Like

  45. Pingback: STUFFLEUFAGUS » What I’ve learned in 2007 « Scobleizer

  46. re #15…are you saying you were only right 10% of the time in 2007? 😉

    #39 and #40 seem at odds. How do you plan to address #40?

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  47. re #15…are you saying you were only right 10% of the time in 2007? 😉

    #39 and #40 seem at odds. How do you plan to address #40?

    Like

  50. I got to about number 20 then realised ‘hey, I have actually have had a lot of beer and merlot already so I don’t need read all of it!’

    So, Happy New Year. Really – Happy 2008! Sorry to read about the loss of your mates too, life is short, so we should make the most of it eh?

    Okay, back to that Merlot…

    Like

  51. I got to about number 20 then realised ‘hey, I have actually have had a lot of beer and merlot already so I don’t need read all of it!’

    So, Happy New Year. Really – Happy 2008! Sorry to read about the loss of your mates too, life is short, so we should make the most of it eh?

    Okay, back to that Merlot…

    Like

  64. Great list Robert. Happy new year from Bangladesh. your blog is a kind of addiction to me. thx for everything. thx for allowing us to add you in gtalk. that was really a big gift from you. wish you a good health.

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  65. Great list Robert. Happy new year from Bangladesh. your blog is a kind of addiction to me. thx for everything. thx for allowing us to add you in gtalk. that was really a big gift from you. wish you a good health.

    Like

  66. Happy New Year Robert, Patrick, Maryam, & Milan 😉 It was such a pleasure meeting you this year Robert! You’ve changed the way I approach the people around me and for that I must Thank You.

    And you’re right – people, ALL people are incredibly fascinating. And you should treat them as such. And not just because they might be famous one day. But because they are.

    Here’s to getting to know the world in 2008!!!

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  67. Happy New Year Robert, Patrick, Maryam, & Milan 😉 It was such a pleasure meeting you this year Robert! You’ve changed the way I approach the people around me and for that I must Thank You.

    And you’re right – people, ALL people are incredibly fascinating. And you should treat them as such. And not just because they might be famous one day. But because they are.

    Here’s to getting to know the world in 2008!!!

    Like

  70. Happy New Year to you and your family Robert – it’s been fun watching you over the past few years and I looked forward to hitting the refresh button on my google reader in 2008 🙂

    Nige

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  71. Happy New Year to you and your family Robert – it’s been fun watching you over the past few years and I looked forward to hitting the refresh button on my google reader in 2008 🙂

    Nige

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  74. Robert, this is the best “2007 list” I’ve seen so far. You bring a degree of honesty to the business of self promotion that I admire and respect with a devotion I can’t and don’t apply to any other blog.

    … one thing left off, your growing skills with a DSLR. Thanks for my new avatar image and best wishes for the new year.

    -Brian

    Like

  75. Robert, this is the best “2007 list” I’ve seen so far. You bring a degree of honesty to the business of self promotion that I admire and respect with a devotion I can’t and don’t apply to any other blog.

    … one thing left off, your growing skills with a DSLR. Thanks for my new avatar image and best wishes for the new year.

    -Brian

    Like

  76. Pingback: Never underestimate a one-trick pony. | Midas Oracle .ORG

  77. Hi Robert,
    I’m on the way to be “BlogSocial” better on 2008, because, as some other people, you opened my eyes on the huge possibilities of social network, despite those “too trash widgets”, which won’t last ever, but amazing projects like Twitter, Seesmic, and so long…
    So I will try to post regularly my opinions there and wherever on the web infinity…According to my specialities around TV broadcast and business.
    Best for you and your familiy, and thx for your “work”, even if I feel happyiest than ever ; congrats for child-born
    Happy 2008, full of social buddles !

    Like

  78. Hi Robert,
    I’m on the way to be “BlogSocial” better on 2008, because, as some other people, you opened my eyes on the huge possibilities of social network, despite those “too trash widgets”, which won’t last ever, but amazing projects like Twitter, Seesmic, and so long…
    So I will try to post regularly my opinions there and wherever on the web infinity…According to my specialities around TV broadcast and business.
    Best for you and your familiy, and thx for your “work”, even if I feel happyiest than ever ; congrats for child-born
    Happy 2008, full of social buddles !

    Like

  81. Pingback: Holy Moly » Blog Archive » 2008 !

  82. It takes a lot to realize what’s important in life and sometimes it takes wake-up calls to realize what is important.

    It was a great list and I enjoy reading your posts. Keep up the good work. Hope you and your family have a great New Year.

    Sam

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  83. It takes a lot to realize what’s important in life and sometimes it takes wake-up calls to realize what is important.

    It was a great list and I enjoy reading your posts. Keep up the good work. Hope you and your family have a great New Year.

    Sam

    Like

  84. Thank you for sharing your reflections. The one thing I took away from your perspectives: Be thoughtful.

    Have a wonderful 2008 Robert.

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  85. Thank you for sharing your reflections. The one thing I took away from your perspectives: Be thoughtful.

    Have a wonderful 2008 Robert.

    Like

  88. Cheers Robert! As great as this post was, I have to say, it was just another post in context of all of the great posts you have cranked out, thanks for spreading all the great insights and info in such a positive way.

    Plenty of good inspiration for 2008!

    Like

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  90. Cheers Robert! As great as this post was, I have to say, it was just another post in context of all of the great posts you have cranked out, thanks for spreading all the great insights and info in such a positive way.

    Plenty of good inspiration for 2008!

    Like

  91. Number one is my favorite. I have a two-year-old and one on the way. I can’t find enough hours in a day to do what I do and enjoy fatherhood as much as I should. They don’t take a back seat to my job, which means there is a limit and very loose ceiling above me professionally, but I could still spend all day everyday playing with my kid and be pretty happy.

    Here’s hoping we find better balances in 2008!

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  92. Number one is my favorite. I have a two-year-old and one on the way. I can’t find enough hours in a day to do what I do and enjoy fatherhood as much as I should. They don’t take a back seat to my job, which means there is a limit and very loose ceiling above me professionally, but I could still spend all day everyday playing with my kid and be pretty happy.

    Here’s hoping we find better balances in 2008!

    Like

  95. @25 Thanks, Robert. But don’t let us know. Let you wife and kids tell you when you went too far. Sorry to say, but in 10 years no one will remember what you were doing. But your kids will remember how much Dad was around…or not…for their whole lives.

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  96. @25 Thanks, Robert. But don’t let us know. Let you wife and kids tell you when you went too far. Sorry to say, but in 10 years no one will remember what you were doing. But your kids will remember how much Dad was around…or not…for their whole lives.

    Like

  97. I like the idea of the pitch for a start up of a company. First it is a good idea for any new start up, but on a larger point of view, every employee should be able to know why they are working for, to get them motivated.

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  98. I like the idea of the pitch for a start up of a company. First it is a good idea for any new start up, but on a larger point of view, every employee should be able to know why they are working for, to get them motivated.

    Like

  105. Love this list (esp. 1, 2, 8, 13…). Miss you too!
    Please do come to Seattle and bring the family with you.
    Happy New Year to you, Maryam, Patrick and Milan.

    Like

  106. Love this list (esp. 1, 2, 8, 13…). Miss you too!
    Please do come to Seattle and bring the family with you.
    Happy New Year to you, Maryam, Patrick and Milan.

    Like

  107. “Everytime my ego tells me I’m important for some reason bad things happen in my life”

    That is so true for me too. Great thoughts. Wish you a happy new year.

    Like

  108. “Everytime my ego tells me I’m important for some reason bad things happen in my life”

    That is so true for me too. Great thoughts. Wish you a happy new year.

    Like

  111. Nice post. When you demonstrate a lot of self-awareness, honesty, contemplation, I am impressed with what I hear.I dont think Ive ever altered my opinion of someone by reading 1 post before, but I have now. If you can kepp your defenses down next time there is some controversy, and respond in this thoughtful a way, my criticisms that you dont actually engage in naked conversations will evaporate 🙂

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  112. Nice post. When you demonstrate a lot of self-awareness, honesty, contemplation, I am impressed with what I hear.I dont think Ive ever altered my opinion of someone by reading 1 post before, but I have now. If you can kepp your defenses down next time there is some controversy, and respond in this thoughtful a way, my criticisms that you dont actually engage in naked conversations will evaporate 🙂

    Like

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  119. Hi Robert, thanks for the words of wisdom and for your uncompromising honesty. The balance of work and life, plugging in to the family, and really listening when someone is talking to you are few a things I constantly work on.

    Regarding good audio, I’d add a set of headphones to the list too. Not sure how it would work on your Nokia but someone will have the answer.

    Best regards in the new year!

    Like

  120. Hi Robert, thanks for the words of wisdom and for your uncompromising honesty. The balance of work and life, plugging in to the family, and really listening when someone is talking to you are few a things I constantly work on.

    Regarding good audio, I’d add a set of headphones to the list too. Not sure how it would work on your Nokia but someone will have the answer.

    Best regards in the new year!

    Like

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